Synchronous media playback and messaging system

• US 20030126211A1
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Anttila, Akseli, Jung, Younghee
• Granted Patent: US 8,417,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

The present invention provides synchronous media playback and messaging between a host user and at least one guest user. The host user wishes to initiate a playback session in which the host user and guest users view a presentation that corresponds to a media file that is locally stored on each of the user'"'"'s terminals. In order to initiate the playback session, the host user invites the guest users. If a guest user wishes to participate in the playback session, the guest user accepts the invitation. When the host user determines that the session should begin, based upon the acceptances from the guest users, the host user initiates the playback of the media file that is locally stored at each terminal. The present invention also supports playback actions that may occur during the playback session. The host user can terminate the playback session, and any of the guest users can withdraw during the playback session.

Claims

1. A method for synchronous media playback, comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a media playback invite request received from a first terminal to a second terminal, wherein the first terminal is associated with a host user and the second terminal is associated with guest user;

(b) relaying a media playback accept response from the second terminal to the first terminal; and

(c) distributing a start playback request from the first terminal to the second terminal, wherein the start playback request directs the second terminal to begin a playback session of a media file in synchronization with the first terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(d) distributing an action request between the first terminal and the second terminal during the playback session.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

verifying permissions associated with the first terminal or the second terminal before executing step (d).

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the action request is selected from the group consisting of a rewind request, a pause playback request, a fast forward request, a textual comment request, and a user-specified internal effect algorithm to modify audio or video of the media file.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(d) distributing a stop playback request from the first terminal to the second terminal in response to the host user terminating the playback session.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(d) storing an internal time in response to step (c); and

(e) providing an elapsed time to second terminal when the second terminal joins the playback session during the playback session.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(d) receiving a first internal time from the first terminal or the second terminal, wherein the first internal time is derived from a global time;

(e) comparing the first internal time to a second internal time in order to derive a time difference, wherein the second internal time is derived from the global time; and

(f) adjusting transmission of a subsequent message to the first terminal or the second terminal.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(d) receiving a stop playback request from the second terminal in response to the guest user withdrawing from the playback session; and

(e) removing a session entry that is associated with the second terminal, wherein the session entry indicates participation of the second terminal in the playback session.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(d) receiving a stop playback request from the first terminal in response to the host user ending the playback session; and

(e) terminating the playback session in response to step (d).

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(d) instructing the second terminal to modify the media file in accordance with a modification file during the playback session.

11. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to provide synchronous media playback and messaging, by:

transmitting a media playback invite request received from a first terminal to a second terminal, wherein the first terminal is associated with a host user and the second terminal is associated with guest user;

relaying a media playback accept response from the second terminal to the first terminal; and

distributing a start playback request from the first terminal to the second terminal, wherein the start playback request directs the second terminal to begin a playback session of a media file in synchronization with the first terminal.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further containing instructions for controlling the computer system to provide synchronous media playback and messaging, by:

distributing an action request between the first terminal and the second terminal during the playback session.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further containing instructions for controlling the computer system to provide synchronous media playback and messaging, by:

distributing a stop playback request from the first terminal to the second terminal at least one other terminal in response to the host user terminating the playback session.

14. A method for synchronous media playback and messaging for a host user, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) sending a media playback invite request to an other terminal in response to a host user initiating an invitation to a guest user, wherein the guest user is associated with the other terminal;

(b) receiving a media playback accept response from the other terminal in response to step (a); and

(c) sending a start playback request to the other terminal in response to step (b), wherein the start playback request begins a playback session of a media file.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

(d) sending an action request to the other terminal, in response to the host user initiating the request.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

(d) receiving an action request from the other terminal, in response to the guest user initiating the request.

17. The method of claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the action request is selected from the group consisting of a rewind request, a pause playback request, a fast forward request, a textual comment, and a request for a user-specified internal effect algorithm to modify audio or video of the media file.

18. The method of claim 14, farther comprising the step of:

(d) sending a stop playback request to the other terminal in response to the host user terminating the playback session.

19. The method according to any of the claims 14, 15, 16, or 18, wherein the requests are processed through a server.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein steps (a), (b), and (c) utilize a wireless communications channel.

21. A method in a terminal for displaying information about a synchronous media playback service, comprising:

displaying a list of media files, wherein a selection is received from a host user; and

displaying a list of guest users, wherein at least one selection is received from the host user.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

displaying a list of playback options, from which a playback option is received from the host user.

23. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to provide synchronous media playback and messaging, by:

sending a media playback invite request to an other terminal in response to a host user initiating an invitation to a guest user, wherein the guest user is associated with the other terminal;

receiving a media playback accept response from the other terminal in response to sending the media playback invite request; and

sending a start playback request to the other terminal in response to receiving the media playback accept response, wherein the start playback request begins a playback session of a media file.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, further containing instructions for controlling the computer system to provide synchronous media playback and messaging, by:

sending an action request to the other terminal, in response to the host user initiating the request.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, further containing instructions for controlling the computer system to provide synchronous media playback and messaging, by:

receiving an action request from the other terminal, in response to the guest user initiating the request.

26. A terminal providing synchronous media playback service for a host user, the terminal comprising:

a services processor;

a communications interface connected to the services processor in order to support a playback session between the terminal and a second terminal, wherein the second terminal is associated with a guest user;

a local storage that stores a media file, wherein the media file is associated with the playback session;

a media player connected to the local storage in order to process the media file during the playback session under control of the services processor;

a keypad unit connected to the services processor; and

a display unit connected to the keypad unit through the services processor, wherein the display unit provides at least one list of choices that is associated with the playback session and wherein the keypad unit receives selections from the host user.

27. The terminal of claim 26, wherein the communications interface supports a wireless communications channel.

28. The terminal of claim 27, wherein the wireless communications channel is in accordance with specifications selected from the group of standards consisting of Global System of Mobile Communications (GSM), Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) IS-95 and cdma2000 (CDMA), TIA IS-136 and IS-54 (TDMA), EIA/TIA-553 (analog), Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB), and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS).

29. The terminal of claim 26, wherein the media file is selected from the group consisting of an audio media file, a video media file, and an audio-video media file.